Our Mission Statement
The Romance Writers University is owned and operated by Black Velvet Seductions. This site, which is a sister site to our main site, has been designed to provide new authors with the tools to assist them in their journey toward publication and to provide experienced authors the tools to enhance their writing careers after publication. Please show your support of this site by visiting the main site.
INSTRUCTOR: Laurie Sanders Editor, Black Velvet Seductions
CLASS VENUE: Workshop will be conducted using Yahoo Groups dedicated to the specific workshop. Workshop participants will be invited to the workshop by email. Please add LaurieSanders@blackvelvetseductions to your address book so you will not miss your invite to the workshop.
CLASS FORMAT: The format of the class will include instructional segments, brainstorming sessions to assist authors in developing characters and internal and external conflicts, establishing a plot line, and so on, time for questions and answers, and a lengthy hands on component where participants will work on actual written exercises (typically a work in progress) which will be critiqued. The exercises, brainstorming sessions, and critiques are the most beneficial parts of most workshops.
DATE: Workshop will begin January 5, 2009 and run throughout the months of January, February and March..
DEADLINE FOR SIGNING UP: Participants must sign up by December 15, 2008 for the January workshop. Those who sign up after that date or who sign up after the workshop spaces are filled will be added to a waiting list for the next workshop.
New Workshop Sign Ups Are Being Added
To A Roster For The Next All Inclusive Romance Writing Workshop Which Has Tentatively Been Scheduled To Run
May 2009 - July 2009
This all inclusive workshop is designed to cover romance writing in a wholistic way, beginning with a definition of a romance novel, sub-genres, a discussion of character types and their roles in common romance plot lines through an overview.
Upon completion of the oveview portion of the workshop the focus will shift. The focus will become providing workshop participants the knowledge and skills necessary to plot a romance novel from start to finish. Special attention will be payed to the foundational elements including character development, the development of internal and external conflicts, establishing character goals and motivation, using internal and external conflicts and character goals and motivation to build tension within the romance novel. During the workshop each workshop participant will work to develop a workable plot line, complete with detailed character analysis with internal and external conflicts.
Once workshop participants have developed their plot line and characters we will address the technical aspects of writing, including showing vs. telling and the use of deep point of view. This portion of the workshop will be very hands on with authors submitting their own works in progress for critique.
The last part of the workshop will focus on marketing and promotion of the romance novel..
Though the workshop begins at a basic level, the workshop should be considered appropriate for authors who have some experience writing, though that writing may be outside the romance genre.